Implantable medical device for improved placement and adherence in the body

Abstract

A medical device comprises a flexible member that can be adhesively attached to a housing of the medical device, allowing implantation of the medical device into a body through an incision of reduced size. The flexible member can be attached to the housing either before or after implantation into the body. The flexible member comprises suture locations, including a permeable membrane or a suture hole, for suturing the medical device to tissue of the body. The suture holes can be filled with a substance penetrable by a suture needle, to minimize tissue ingrowth before or after suturing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vascular access device comprising:
 a housing comprising an entry site, a base, and a housing perimeter; 
 a needle-penetrable material comprising a needle-penetrable perimeter; 
 wherein the needle-penetrable perimeter is configured to extend beyond the housing perimeter further in a first direction than in a second direction; and 
 wherein the needle-penetrable material comprises a non-uniform variation in thickness; and 
 wherein the non-uniform variation in thickness is configured to extend below the base. 
 
     
     
       2. The vascular access device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle-penetrable material is configured to be shaped to mate with the housing. 
     
     
       3. The vascular access device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle-penetrable material is configured to extend further in the first direction than the second direction. 
     
     
       4. The vascular access device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle-penetrable material is devoid of any preformed suture holes and is configured to allow complete penetration by a needle. 
     
     
       5. The vascular access device of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular access device is configured to allow for the administration, withdrawal, or exchange of a fluid. 
     
     
       6. The vascular access device of  claim 5 , wherein the vascular access device is configured to allow for the withdrawal of blood. 
     
     
       7. The vascular access device of  claim 6 , wherein the vascular access device is configured to allow for the administration of blood. 
     
     
       8. The vascular access device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle-penetrable material is configured to surround a majority of the housing perimeter. 
     
     
       9. The vascular access device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a septum. 
     
     
       10. The vascular access device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-uniform variation in thickness of the needle-penetrable material is configured to extend along at least two surfaces of the housing. 
     
     
       11. A vascular access device comprising:
 a housing comprising a base and a housing perimeter; 
 a needle-penetrable material configured to surround a majority of the housing perimeter; 
 wherein the needle-penetrable material is configured to allow complete penetration by a needle to attach a suture; and 
 wherein the needle-penetrable material comprises a non-uniform variation in thickness along a surface of the base. 
 
     
     
       12. The vascular access device of  claim 11 , further comprising an entry site; and wherein the needle-penetrable material is configured to extend from the entry site to the base. 
     
     
       13. The vascular access device of  claim 12 , wherein the vascular access device further comprises a catheter. 
     
     
       14. The vascular access device of  claim 13 , wherein the needle-penetrable region is devoid of any performed suture holes. 
     
     
       15. A vascular access device comprising:
 a housing comprising an entry site, a sidewall, and a base; 
 wherein a needle-penetrable material is devoid of any preformed suture holes and is configured to allow complete penetration by a needle; 
 wherein the needle-penetrable material is configured to extend from the entry site to below the base; and 
 wherein the needle-penetrable material comprises a region of a first thickness configured to extend along the sidewall and a region of a second thickness configured to extend below the base; and wherein the region of the second thickness comprises a non-uniform variation. 
 
     
     
       16. The vascular access device of  claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises a septum. 
     
     
       17. The vascular access device of  claim 15 , wherein the vascular access device is configured to allow for the withdrawal of blood. 
     
     
       18. The vascular access device of  claim 17 , wherein the vascular access device is configured to allow for the administration of blood. 
     
     
       19. The vascular access device of  claim 18 , wherein the first thickness comprises a non-uniform variation. 
     
     
       20. The vascular access device of  claim 19 , wherein the housing further comprises a housing perimeter; the needle-penetrable material further comprises a needle-penetrable perimeter; and wherein the needle-penetrable perimeter is configured to extend beyond the housing perimeter further in a first direction than a second direction.